Ultrarunners, as you doubtless know, are a particular group of individuals, and when you have a particular ultrarunner in your life who you’d like to purchase a present for, we’ve obtained you coated. Fortunately, ultrarunners love numerous miles and time on their ft, typically in wild areas with unpredictable climate, so their ardour for the game comes with particular gear wants.
We’ve compiled this information that will help you discover the perfect items for the ultrarunner in your life. Our skilled workforce of testers, all of whom have an affinity for operating lengthy distances, runs in dozens of merchandise yearly, throughout all seasons, and on all sorts of terrain. We observe gear’s consolation, match, versatility, and worth, amongst a number of different components. Our favourite merchandise from quite a lot of classes — from the Patagonia Males’s Strider Professional Shorts – 5″ to the Petzl Iko Core headlamp — are those that made it into this present information.
In the event you want extra present suggestions for the opposite runners in your life, make sure you take a look at our different present guides, too:
The Smartwool Lively Fleece Wind 1/2 Zip – Males’s and Smartwool Lively Fleece Wind 1/2 Zip – Ladies’s will maintain the ultrarunner in your life shielded from the weather through the chilly winter months. This pullover has a windproof entrance panel to dam the wind, whereas the four-way stretch knit material breathes nicely and releases warmth and moisture. A merino next-to-skin layer helps with moisture switch so that you just keep dry — which is further vital when operating within the chilly! A sturdy water repellent (DWR) end repels mild precipitation in case you get caught out in a sprinkle.
The match is cosy with out being tight, and you’ll layer each beneath it and over it relying on the climate circumstances. This jacket additionally has considerate options like reflective components for evening operating, a chest pocket for storage, and thumbholes on the finish of the sleeves to supply further heat for the arms. It is available in two colours and 5 sizes, so it may be a great match for all kinds of ultrarunners.
The three-quarter zip model makes it straightforward to dump warmth in case you begin to get heat, but it cinches up snugly below the chin for these actually chilly runs. With a considerate model, it is a garmet that’s is equally as comfy out on a run as it’s within the espresso store afterward.
Smartwool has sponsored the location of this product.
Smartwool Lively Fleece Wind 1/2 Zip – Males’sSmartwool Lively Fleece Wind 1/2 Zip – Ladies’s
The Smartwool Lively Fleece Wind 1/2 Zip is ideal for cold-weather runs. Photograph: Smartwool
The Patagonia Males’s Strider Professional Shorts – 5″ are the unanimous and longtime favourite amongst iRunFar’s testing workforce, making them a mainstay within the high spot in our Finest Operating Shorts for Males information. They’re merely a superb pair of shorts due to their unmatched consolation, performance, and sturdiness.
These shorts are available in two lengths, 5 inches and seven inches, with an eminently breathable 100% polyester transient liner on the within. The physique consists of 90% recycled polyester and 10% spandex mix for a light-weight, ethereal really feel. The fabric has a HeiQ anti-odor therapy to assist with odor management. The drawstring is on the surface, eliminating chafing issues, and the four-way stretch materials has a sturdy water repellent (DWR) coating will maintain you dry and comfy in mild precipitation. We’ve but to discover a extra comfy pair of shorts for runs measured in hours as a substitute of minutes.
These shorts have 5 pockets for storage, and we’ve used them to hold gels, keys, bank cards, packable jackets, and even small cell telephones within the massive rear zipper pocket. It’s value noting that giant telephones could have extra bother becoming. For all of those options — and contemplating that Patagonia stays an environmentally and socially acutely aware firm — these shorts are an ideal worth for the ultrarunner in your life.
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Whenever you need a pair of shorts that may carry your snacks, cellphone, chapstick, or keys, the Janji W’s 3″ Multi Quick has a storage possibility to suit practically any smaller merchandise. These shorts characteristic seven pockets across the waistband of assorted sizes and depths, they usually carry their cargo snugly and with out bounce. One of many pockets even has a key clip for added safety. Whereas Janji claims that the pockets provide a full liter of storage, until the gadgets are extremely mild, this seems like a little bit of a stretch for us. Nonetheless, for having the ability to carry so much, these shorts are extremely light-weight and perfect for warm-weather operating. They’re manufactured from a four-way stretch mesh that breathes nicely, and the microperforated materials dries shortly. The facet slit permits for a full vary of movement, and these shorts really feel extremely ethereal and light-weight. The liner, manufactured from a 94% polyester and 6% spandex mix, is almost imperceptible and didn’t experience up or trigger any chafing.
It’s actually the waistband with the pockets that units these shorts other than the remainder. Manufactured from two layers, it hugs the waist snugly with out feeling overly tight, and the whole lot may be tightened down with an exterior drawstring.
You too can select a 5-inch possibility in case you favor extra protection, and there are a number of coloration choices, starting from plain black to some enjoyable patterns. These shorts have earned a spot in our Finest Operating Shorts for Ladies information.
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Thought of by many to be the usual by which all different operating vests are judged, the Salomon Adv Pores and skin 12 appears to have all of it. With a excessive and tight match in your again to stop bounce, quick-drying non-chafing material, two comfortable flasks included, and sufficient storage for an all-day journey, this pack is likely one of the finest presently out there.
The one wire within the entrance makes it straightforward to tighten or loosen the pack; there are pockets just about wherever you look; it’s straightforward to connect your trekking poles; and there are many different bells and whistles. Even with all of it’s options, at 8.7 ounces (246 grams), the vest is light-weight and cinches down flat in your again if you tug the compression cords on the principle compartment, making it equally as comfy when empty as when it’s stuffed full. Salomon upgraded the supplies on this vest from the earlier model by including extra perforations to the mesh materials on the again to extend breathability. The internal materials mesh of the shoulder straps can also be softer.
We completely love the pass-thru pocket that extends in between stretchy mesh openings across the facet ribs. You do want at the least some shoulder mobility to entry this pocket on the run, nevertheless it’s big and appears to swallow up no matter we want it to, making it so environment friendly if you’re making relentless ahead progress in your extremely. Salomon moved the important thing clip to the rear pocket, a safer and extra handy location.
One of many issues we don’t love is that the comfortable flask pockets on the entrance of the pack are tall and skinny and mainly solely maintain Salomon’s uniquely formed comfortable flask, and typically, even these are robust to place again in. We’re additionally a bit unhappy that they removed the big stuff pocket that was on the highest of the pack and completely held a windbreaker.
This vest was one in every of our high picks within the Finest Operating Vests information, and you’ll learn extra in our in-depth Salomon Adv Pores and skin 12 evaluation.
Store the Salomon Adv Pores and skin 12 Unisex Operating VestStore the Salomon Adv Pores and skin 12 Ladies’s Operating Vest
The Salomon Adv Pores and skin 12. Photograph: iRunFar/Eszter Horanyi
In terms of battery life, the Coros Vertix 2S reigns supreme amongst all GPS watches. We admit that this watch could be overkill for the common ultrarunner, however we additionally consider that with regards to items, typically it’s value shopping for one thing for somebody that they wouldn’t purchase for themselves. This watch really units the business normal for GPS watch batteries, as it could actually run as much as 40 days in fundamental mode or 118 hours with full GPS recording working. We put this watch to the check on the 126-mile, five-day Snowman Race in Bhutan, and we had been really impressed by its battery life chops.
We additionally love the watch’s “At a Look” widget that permits you to simply scroll by way of stats similar to every day step depend, sleep, common coronary heart fee, restoration standing, and extra. Equally spectacular is the watch’s sturdiness. With a face manufactured from sapphire and a titanium bezel, you’ll be able to belief it to carry as much as the weather. After greater than two years of testing, we are able to’t detect any noticeable harm. With Coros’s superior GPS expertise, we discovered this watch to be extra correct when operating by way of terrain with no clear view of the sky, similar to slot canyons in Utah. We must always observe that for most individuals, particularly these with smaller wrists, this watch is just not for informal put on. There’s no denying that it’s massive.
Sure, that is the most costly present suggestion we’ve got on this information, nevertheless it’s one that won’t disappoint your particular ultrarunner and can give them constant run monitoring for years to return.
This watch additionally seems in our Finest GPS Operating Watches information, and you’ll learn extra in our Coros Vertix 2S evaluation.
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The Black Diamond Distance Carbon Z Poles are thought-about among the finest trekking poles amongst many path runners and ultrarunners resulting from their versatility, sturdiness, and ease of use. They’ve a easy, light-weight design that may be very dependable. The 100% carbon shafts are bolstered on the joints, making them extremely sturdy. Like most foldable trekking poles, these fold into three sections, making it straightforward to retailer them on a operating vest or operating belt when not in use. The straps are moisture-wicking and straightforward to get out and in of, making these perfect for races or runs if you steadily have to make use of your arms to seize snacks or rocks in case you’re scrambling on technical terrain.
We’ve had these poles survive a few years below heavy use and observed a a lot decrease break fee than many different poles available on the market.
You possibly can learn extra about these poles in our in-depth Black Diamond Distance Carbon Z Poles evaluation.
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iRunFar’s Meghan Hicks makes use of the Black Diamond Distance Carbon Z Poles on a late-season mountain run. Photograph: iRunFar/Eszter Horanyi
Each runner wants a windbreaker, and the Montbell Tachyon Hooded Jacket is a favourite for a purpose. With numerous options, an ultralight weight of two.3 ounces (66 grams), and an reasonably priced worth, it repeatedly holds a spot in our Finest Windbreaker Jackets information. It’s made out of a seven-denier ripstop nylon, which is likely one of the lightest materials presently utilized in windbreaker jackets. Whereas the material feels prefer it needs to be delicate, we’ve had no points with ripping or tearing all through our testing, and one factor that we completely love is that this nylon doesn’t have that annoying swishing sound whilst you’re operating. The fabric can also be handled with a DWR end to assist resist mild moisture.
This jacket, whereas minimalist, doesn’t skimp on options like a hood, elastic hems on the cuffs and waist, two zippered hand pockets, a Velcro internal pocket, and a full-length zipper. Underarm vents assist dump warmth to maintain you from overheating. We appreciated that the again of the jacket was a bit longer than the entrance, and that there have been small bits of microfiber on the arm cuffs for a little bit of added consolation.
Store the Males’s Montbell Tachyon Hooded JacketStore the Ladies’s Montbell Tachyon Hooded Jacket
Testing the Montbell Tachyon Hooded Jacket. Photograph: iRunFar/Eszter Horanyi
The best choice in our Finest Operating Headlamps information, the Petzl Iko Core is a light-weight headlamp that’s comfy, brilliant sufficient for many operating circumstances, and straightforward to function.
The top harness units this headlamp other than the remainder. Not like many different headlamps that simply use a versatile strap, the silicone band offers a little bit of construction that distributes the stress across the head and retains the sunshine and battery from bouncing, even when it’s not tremendous tight. We didn’t really feel any signficant stress factors even after hours of damage. Whereas it could seem cumbersome at first, the band folds up simply for storage in your pack. Weighing lower than 2.5 ounces, it’s extremely mild.
This headlamp can emit as much as 500 lumens of cool mild, which we appreciated when operating on extra technical trails at evening. We discovered that 100 lumen setting was enough for many evening runs on regular trails. At 500 lumens, the headlamp will final about 2.5 hours.
Whilst you can change out the battery, it’s a little bit of a fiddly course of to take action. That very minor problem was the one knock on an in any other case glorious headlamp for ultrarunners.
Learn our in-depth Petzl Iko Core evaluation for extra info.
Store the Petzl Iko Core
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